Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
A s Emily stirred from her nap, the lingering haze of sleep slowly began to dissipate, leaving her mind struggling to catch up with the events that had led her to end up in her bedroom. The memory of her dragon-man encounter felt like a distant dream, too fantastical to be real, yet the vividness of the experience left a lingering unease in its wake.
But as she glanced toward the corner of the room, her eyes fell upon Logan’s muscular figure. He was seated in the chair with his watchful gaze fixed upon her. The sight of him brought a rush of conflicting emotions. Gratitude for his steadfast presence, yet a hint of unease at the realization that he had been watching over her while she slept.
The thought should have unsettled her more than it did, but instead, Emily found herself oddly comforted by his silent vigil. There was a sense of safety in his presence, a reassurance that she hadn’t experienced since she was a child.
“You stayed,” she said, pulling the covers off her.
“You fell asleep in the chair. I thought it prudent to ensure you were alright.”
Emily’s gaze drifted over Logan’s muscular form, tracing the sculpted lines of his physique with a mixture of admiration and intrigue. He sat in the corner of the room like a Greek god, his broad shoulders and chiseled features exuding an air of strength and masculinity. Clad in simple blue jeans and a black T-shirt, he appeared effortlessly handsome, the epitome of rugged charm and raw magnetism.
The sight of him left Emily momentarily breathless, her mind reeling with the realization that dragons, or at least this particular one, possessed such remarkable physical attributes. A living embodiment of power and vitality that left her questioning everything she thought she knew about the world around her.
Were all dragons blessed with such impressive stature and undeniable allure? Or was Logan a rare exception, a testament to the unique blend of strength and grace that defined his kind?
“I would caution you against such thoughts,” he said with a growl in his voice.
She blinked before realizing he had invaded her mind again. “You’re offended, I think you’re sexy? Sorry, but you should take a look in the mirror. My grandmother would have thought you were a stud, and she was over ninety when she died.”
“I like that you find me attractive. I am quite enamored with you as well, but be wary of thinking about others of my kind.”
She blinked. “You are jealous of my thoughts? Seriously?”
Logan frowned. “I am not human, Emily. And I am new to... these emotions.”
She wanted to ask more about his unusual statement, but her phone chimed. She rushed from the bed and jogged to the living room to read the text.
Her entire body froze as her gaze moved over the words.
Logan sauntered from the bedroom. “Emily, what is it? You are vexed.”
“Only a two-thousand-year-old dinosaur would use the word vexed. ”
“I am a dragon, not a dinosaur,” Logan said.
She closed her eyes for a moment. “Sorry. I have a job to do.”
“You were shot. Why would your uncle send you after another item so soon?”
She huffed. According to the text. Mito failed in his mission. She didn’t add he was killed. Considering Mito was a force of nature, things didn’t bode well for her. She responded to her uncle, saying she needed a few days off first.
The next text surprised her so much that she read it twice. Retrieve this item, and your debt will be paid. You will leave the family and never return.
She had waited for this day since her father had started training her. “Logan, I need you to go.”
“Why?”
She turned toward him. “You said you would leave after we talked. I did as you asked, and now, I have something to take care of.”
“You plan to steal something,” he said in a deadpan voice.
“Yes, but it’s my final job. And before you get too worked up, the people I steal from are criminals. My uncle targets people who won’t report the theft.”
“I understand your need for closure, but we need to discuss our future.”
“Our future? Are you high? I just met you, and if I don’t finish this job, I don’t have one.”
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t worry about it. I need you to leave. Don’t make me ask again.” She put as much steel into her voice as she could muster. She did feel bad, though. Logan had healed her, watched over her, and asked for nothing in return. Even Mrs. Lim expected payment for her services.
Logan nodded and walked to the front door. He exited silently, and she returned to her phone and pulled up the address her uncle had sent her. She always did a cursory look at a target before discussing it with her uncle, but this job meant everything, and it would have to be in the bowels of hell for her to turn it down.
Emily made her way to her bedroom with a sense of purpose. She selected a pair of sleek yoga pants and a matching jacket. The small body purse looked like something you would carry a wallet and keys in, but this one held her mini binoculars and a few other items she used for recon. A nondescript outfit that gave her the appearance of someone out for their daily exercise. It was a disguise that blended seamlessly into the bustling city, allowing her to move unnoticed through the throngs of people on the street.
As she slipped into her chosen attire, Emily felt a sense of anonymity wash over her, a shield against the prying eyes of the world outside. With a quick glance in the mirror to ensure that her appearance was suitably inconspicuous, she tucked her cell phone and keycard into her pocket.
The location her uncle sent her was only nine blocks away, a distance easily traversed on foot. She avoided taking a vehicle whenever possible, not wanting anything to track her movements. Since she was dressed for a run, she might as well take advantage of it.
With a final check to ensure that she had everything she needed, Emily exited her apartment and made her way to the elevator. The ride down was quick, and she jogged to the street as soon as the exit door opened.
Emily moved gracefully through the clusters of pedestrians on the busy sidewalk, her movements fluid and precise as she navigated the throngs of people. Despite the hustle and bustle of the city streets, she approached the tall silver building with determined purpose, her gaze fixed on the looming structure ahead.
This particular skyscraper was no stranger to Emily. It housed more than one business, and several of them had dubious reputations. It was a fact she knew from her previous infiltration of the building years ago, albeit on a different floor. But this time, her target was the penthouse, and she was prepared to do whatever it took to reach her objective.
Drawing upon her past experience, Emily made a strategic decision as she reached the entrance of the building. Instead of entering directly into her target’s domain, she opted to enter the building across the street, blending seamlessly into the flow of residents returning home. With practiced ease, she rode the elevator to the top floor, her demeanor calm and unassuming before she exited the lift and made her way to the stairwell.
Once she reached the top, Emily ducked onto the deserted rooftop, the cool air whipping against her face as she approached the edge. She took out the mini binoculars and checked the roof on the other side. It had vent ducts as well as a door to the stairwell. That would be the easiest entry, but night infiltrations were tricky, especially with a paraglider.
Why are you considering that contraption to fly? Logan’s voice seemed to purr in her mind and her body heated, despite the cool breeze on the roof.
Never mind. It’s none of your business.
Everything to do with you is my business.
Buzz off.
I am not a bee.
Her lips pursed, and she was glad he couldn’t see her, and had forgotten what teasing was like.
Can you at least fly like one?
You are being intentionally disrespectful. I have much admiration for the flying mechanics of a bee, but I assure you, my wings are far sturdier.
She put the binoculars back in their pouch and took out the tiny camera. She began taking pics of the roof as well as the street below .
I will take your word for it. But can you make honey? Because it’s one of my favorites. She smiled, unsure what he would do. Her statement was true. She would often toast bread and put nothing but honey on it. But her boot touched a jar at her feet, and she knelt down to pick it up. The small sparkling jar of honey looked delicious, and her jaw dropped slightly. She knew Logan put it there, but had no idea how he did it.
I assure you a honeybee cannot please you as I can.
Her entire body reacted to his words. She wasn’t sure what to say or do. She had never flirted with anyone, let alone someone in her own head.
You are distracting me.
I have thought of nothing but you since I laid eyes on you. We are even.
After she zipped up her body purse, she jogged to the stairs and headed to the elevator. A young man was in the lift, and he looked her over with appreciation. She was tiny, but she was in excellent shape. She couldn’t do the things she did if she weren’t.
“Do you live in this building? I have never seen you before.”
She smiled at him. “No, just dropping off a package that was mailed to me by mistake.”
“That’s kind of you. My name is Marco.” He held his hand out, but she heard Logan growl in her head.
“It’s nice to meet you, Marco,” she pretended like she was about to shake his hand, but then put her hand on her body purse. “Sorry, I have a call.”
She pulled out her cell and pretended to answer it. “Hey, Mom.” The elevator reached the bottom, and she jogged out. Once outside, she put the phone away and made her way around the building. She took photos of the entrances, but decided a roof entry was still preferable. The buildings were pretty far apart, but a zipline would be safer than a paraglider.
She checked the name listed for the top floor on the building’s registry. It was a large silver slab near the entrance that listed the various businesses located inside.
She needed a lot more information on Dark Industries and hoped her uncle had done some prior recon on the company and its owner.
As if on cue, her phone pinged. She was running back the way she came after reading the text from her uncle.
Where are you going, Emily?